Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Committee Chair
Maria Pour
Committee Member
Laurie Joiner
Committee Member
Tony Gatlin
Research Advisor
Maria Pour
Subject(s)
Antenna arrays--Design and construction, Phased array antennas, Beamforming
Abstract
With the continual increase in the need for wireless communications, there comes a desire to decrease fabrication costs. One of the primary drivers for the cost of an antenna array is the actual number of antennas used. This number, however, can only be decreased so far for a fixed aperture area without causing undesired secondary main beams, grating lobes, to appear in the radiation pattern. This work aims to analyze the results of two methods for reducing these grating lobes in sparse, scanning phased array antennas. Both of these methods are based upon dual-mode antenna elements, as opposed to single-mode constituent elements in conventional arrays, where the relative excitation between the modes allows the antenna element to either displace its phase center or generate distinct, or shallow, nulls. The first design explored in this work will show the use of the displaced phase center method to reduce the grating lobes in a planar array, while the null generation capabilities are used to generate a novel virtually widened null to entirely eliminate the grating lobes present in sparse linear arrays.
Recommended Citation
Current, William M., "Grating lobe suppression techniques in sparse linear and planar phased array antennas with reconfigurable phasor elements" (2024). Theses. 716.
https://louis.uah.edu/uah-theses/716